by Christine Sine
Today, the Eve of Epiphany, marks the last official day of Christmas. It celebrates the coming of the wise men and ushers in the season of Epiphany Three events are usually associated with the season:
- The coming of the Magi and the revelation of Christ as Son of God to all the peoples of the world
- The baptism of Christ and his revelation as Son of God to the disciples and the crowds that came to John the Baptist at the river Jordan for repentance.
- The wedding at Cana where through the transformation of water into wine we catch the first glimpse of God’s new world of celebration, joy and abundance.
This is a season in which we are encouraged to come and see, come and follow, go and tell others. As followers of Christ we are invited to reveal him to others so that they too might recognize him as Son of God and experience the hope and freedom that his message brings. I think that this is also a season to broaden our vision to remind ourselves of the many ways in which Christ is at work in our world – we need to look and listen for God’s voice and come and see the things that God is doing not jsut in our own churches and communities but also amongst the poor, amongst the oppressed, amongst the marginalized and ignored.
God is actively at work in our world if we will take the time to come and see, come and follow and go and tell others. Later today I plan to upload liturgies for morning and evening prayer during the season of epiphany I find that using prayers like this helps me to focus on Christ and the responsibilities that go with being a follower of Christ.
How are you responding to God’s call at this season and how do you plan to remind yourself of this call?
The prayer above is part of this longer litany that you might like to use in this upcoming season:
Arise, shine inheritors of God’s light,
Bearers of Christ’s light to our darkened world,
The light of God has come into our world,
And nations will come to its brightness,
Arise, shine, privileged ones who live in the light of Christ,
Bow before God not in shame but in awe,
All is visible in Christ’s eternal light,
In us God’s light never goes out.
Arise shine, in Christ, God’s light has been revealed to us,
It reaches across time and space,
We have come to see,
We have come to follow,
Arise shine, in Christ God’s light has been revealed to all people,
God’s glory has been unveiled in all the earth,
May we go and tell,
May we go and share God’s light with our needy world.
(Pause to remind yourself of the ways that Christ has been revealed as Son of God in your own life. How has God used your life to bring Christ’s light into the life of others?)
Come and see
The light of God has come into our world
To proclaim God’s justice and love
It has overcome the darkness and brought new life
Come and follow
Christ our king has redeemed our world
He draws us into a loving family
From every tribe and family and culture
Go and tell
The Spirit has equipped us for service
To love our neighbours as we do ourselves
To bring God’s salvation to the ends of the earth
Come and see, come and follow, go and tell
In God’s Son the nations of the earth will put their hope
Read Scriptures of the day from Daily Lectionary
God we have come to see and we will follow and show others,
In times of scarcity may we see your generosity,
In places of oppression may we see your freedom,
In a world at war may we see your peace.
God we have come to see and we will follow and show others,
In times of despair may we follow your hope,
In places of hate may we follow your love,
In a world of deception may we follow your truth.
God we have come to see and we will follow and show others,
In times of uncertainty may we show your faithfulness,
In places of corruption may we show your righteousness,
In a world of bondage may we show your salvation.
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be your name, Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for yours is the kingdom, the power and the glory, forever and ever, Amen
(Pause to offer up your own intercessions.)
God who revealed yourself to wise men following a star,
Guide all who search and journey towards your light today,
God whose light shines like a bright guiding star have mercy on us.
God who unveiled yourself in the gift of a son,
Show yourself to all who seek after justice and righteousness today,
God whose light shines like a bright guiding star have mercy on us.
God who was baptized with those who declared their repentance in the Jordan river,
Manifest yourself to all who come with repentant hearts today,
God whose light shines like a bright guiding star have mercy on us.
God who fed the five thousand with a handful of fish and loaves,
Satisfy our hunger with your word of truth and love,
God whose light shines like a bright guiding star have mercy on us.
God who changed water into wine at a wedding,
Fill all who thirst with the free gift of the water of life,
God whose light shines like a bright guiding star have mercy on us.
Lord God Almighty, thank you that Jesus’ epiphany as Son of God reaches across time and space. As we go into this day may we embrace your call to come and see, come and follow, go and tell others. May we remember that we are bearers of Christ’s light sent out to touch others so that they may know him as Son of God and experience the hope his message brings.
Go into the world knowing you are led by the light of Christ,
May the love of the Creator go before you,
May the life of the Redeemer be within you,
May the joy of the Spirit shine through you,
Amen.